Class ‘95 blasts ‘96 in CECABA

CEBU, Philippines - What was expected to be a close battle between the two league heavyweights turned out to be one-sided match after the New Millennium Hardware '95 blasted the First Family Appliance Circle '96, 65-51, in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Well-rounded sentinel Donald Anthony Ting sparkled with 25 points on top of six rebounds, four assists and two steals as Class '95 tightened its grip of the solo lead with a 13-1 win-loss record.

Dean Dy Teves and Edison Ho each scored 10, even as they also combined for 11 rebounds for Class '95, which used a sizzling rally in the middle quarters to fluster Class '96 at the final buzzer.

Down by a matchstick after the first 10 minutes of play, Class '95 outscored Class '96 in the second period, 15-11, then launched a crippling 21-9 run in the third to mount an imposing 15-point bulge, 50-35.

Class '96 never recovered from there on the way to absorb its only second loss in a dozen games. Rex Alinson paced the losing side with 17 points, two rebounds and two steals followed by Rogelio Donayre with 11 points, three rebounds and the same number of assists.

In the other games, Dewfoam '88 readily bounced back from a heart-breaking loss and vented its ire on the listless Wild Rice 2007, 58-38, while Young Builders '91 also made an impression in its 74-55 whacking of Argentina Corned Beef '84/87/90.

Man mountain Ricky Yu punched in 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Gregorio Aguilar, Jr. added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Class '88, which kept Class 2007 at bay after closing the first half with a 14-point advantage, 31-17.

Class '88 closed the match with a 13-6 bang for the 20-point blowout. The Dewfoam-backed squad, thus, bettered its win-loss card to 9-4, while dropping Class 2007 to its 12th straight defeat. Juan Carlo Espada was the lone bright spot for Class 2007 with 18 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Chester Benedict Go, on the other hand, had his finest game of the season, so far, finishing with 15 points, 14 rebounds and two steals for Class '91.

Tommy Yu also nailed 15 points on top of 16 rebounds, while Peter de la Torre chipped in 14 markers and six rebounds as Class '91 nothed its third win in 11 starts. They were in fully control from the start, taking a 28-18 lead at the bend before ending the game with a 27-16 spurt to come up with a 19-point demolition.

John Quilacio posted a season-high 17 points and eight rebounds for Class '84/87/90. Paul Michael Cabellon and Frederick Chua chalked up 12 points apiece, even as they also conspired for 16 rebounds and five steals but their efforts went to waste as they suffered their ninth setback against only two wins. (FREEMAN)

The scores

First game

Class '95 (65) - Ting 25, Dy Teves 10, Ho 10, Chica 5, Yu 4, Gue 3, Arjona 2

Class '96 (51) - Alinson 17, Donayre 11, Baron 9, Renejane 8, Wang 4, Lariosa 2

Second game

Class '91 (74) - C. Go 15, Yu 15, De la Torre 14, Co 9, Borromeo 8, E. Go 6, Ty 5, Lim 2 

Class '84/87/90 (55) - Quilacio 17, F. Chua 12, Cabellon 12, Lin 8, K. Lim 6

Third game

Class '88 (58) - Yu 14, Aguilar 10, Po 9, R. Lim 6, Co 5, Villamor 4, Dy 4, Tanting 4, Miranda 2

Class 2007 (38) - Espada 18, Pilapil 7, Dy 4, So 3, Revil 2, Haw 2, Ong 2